On Tuesday, Aug. 3, neighborhoods throughout Bellevue are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the "27th annual National Night Out" crime and drug prevention event.

National Night Out, is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the Bellevue Police Department, the Crossroads Shopping Center, Target, Top Foods Grocery Store, Chipotle, Westernco Donuts, will involve over 10,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. In all, close to 34 million people are expected to participate.

National Night Out is a civic event designed to: (1) heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts; (3) send a message to criminals, letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back; and (4) strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

On Tuesday, residents in neighborhoods throughout the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on their outside lights and spend the evening with neighbors and police. Citizens are encouraged to start planning their own block parties and open houses.

From 4 to 7 p.m., there will be a National Night Out community party at the Bellevue Police Crossroads Community Station on the 1200 block of 156th Avenue Northeast.

This event is for Bellevue residents of all ages. There will be prizes for the kids, demonstrations by various public safety departments on ways to stay safe, entertainment, food and lots of fun all designed around a crime prevention/reduction message. This is going to be a great opportunity to get out and meet your local police officers and your neighbors, as well as, to learn about ways to organize your neighborhoods to fight crime.

For more information, contact Officer Dave Porter at the Crossroads Community Station, DPorter@bellevuewa.gov or 425-452-2891.